EAGLES Vision

EAGLES History and Statement

Origin and organisation of EAGLES

EAGLES was set up through the initiative of members of the European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB). EAGLES arose from conversations between the former President of the EFB, Prof. Borge Diderichsen, Novo Nordisk with Prof. Huanming Yang, Director of the Beijing Genomics Institute and other members of EFBIC, and with members of the European Group on Life Sciences (EGLS) set up by Commissioner Busquin. An ad hoc group supported by EFB met in Brussels during the EGLS conference “Towards sustainable agriculture for developing countries: options from life sciences and biotechnologies” 30-31 January 2003. EAGLES aims and strategy were defined and new members were invited to join, many from developing and emerging countries.

It was established as a Task Group of EFB, which provides advice and support, as well as an administrative structure and its large network.

Dr. Serageldin, the Director of the Library of Alexandria, is Chairman of EAGLES. He was formerly Vice-President of The World Bank and Chairman (1993-2000) of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Prof. Huanming Yang who led the Chinese human genome initiative is Co-Vice Chairmen.

Prof. David McConnell, as Co-Vice Chairman of EAGLES, chairs the Task Group on EAGLES, which coordinates the efforts of all the consortium members to develop and fund the programme.

EAGLES and Scientists’ Global Responsibilities

The OECD countries have dominated the development and application of life sciences over the last 25 years – lacking a global perspective they have defined the economic, commercial, legal and ethical frameworks for biotechnology without taking any significant account of the needs of the developing world Developing World problems pose huge humanitarian challenges for life scientists. Distinguished Third World scientists, who are making very significant contributions to international science, are in a position to give powerful advice on the development of life sciences. Europe has a duty to listen to them. A new dialogue is required in which the needs, the voices and the opinions of the emerging and developing countries should be clearly identified, heard and heeded. EAGLES will serve as a platform for achieving this dialogue between scientists from the DECs and European politicians, policy makers, members of the media and other leaders of public opinion.

The EAGLES declaration

The members of EAGLES are determined to ensure that the skills and resources of European life sciences are properly used for the benefits of mankind. The members of EAGLES believe:

1. That the greatest humanitarian challenges for the life sciences lie in the problems of illness, starvation and environmental degradation which are faced by hundreds of millions of people in our world today, and will be faced by millions more in the coming decades.
2. That life scientists everywhere have a responsibility to address these global challenges.
3. That European life scientists could and should make a much greater contribution to meet these challenges.
4. That European policies should facilitate the life sciences in meeting these challenges.
5. In addressing these challenges that the people of Europe and their leaders should pay careful attention to the knowledge and advice of distinguished life scientists and humanists from the developing and emerging countries.